'Living Biblically': CBS Sitcom Puts a Modern Spin on Religion

Oh, Lord. On the new CBS comedy Living Biblically, columnist Chip (Jay R. Ferguson) decides to strictly adhere to the Bible to be a better person.

“Each week he struggles with a new issue, like ‘Thou shalt not lie,’” says creator Patrick Walsh. His newspaper colleagues and wife, Leslie (Lindsey Kraft), are skeptical, especially as he deals with some antiquated concepts. “‘Submit to your husband’ is a verse in the Bible,” Walsh says. “Leslie is like, ‘Are you in charge of me now?’”

Jay R. Ferguson and the cast open up about religious humor done with heart, not hate.

Helping Chip navigate his new by-the-good-book lifestyle are a priest, Father Gene (Ian Gomez), and a rabbi, Gil (David Krumholtz).

“Father Gene says, ‘Even I think that what you’re doing is crazy,’” Walsh notes, while stressing that the show is not calling devout believers crazy. “However,” he adds, “trying to live your life 100 percent by the Bible is impossible.” Amen.